Fire-escape.



No. 687,553. Patented Nov. 26, 1901.

N. N. BILLINGS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1901.) (No. Model.) 2 SheetsSheet I.

/Lm7@ E H L M (h M W fines-$65 V Ja e @507 X. 701$ /3 Q /%e Patented Nov. 26, |90| N. in. BILLINGS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets- Shag 2.

(No Model UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN N. BILLINGS, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFIGATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 687,553, dated November 26, 1901. Application filed February 20, 1901. Serial No. 4:8,l82. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN NELSON BIL- LINGS, manufacturer, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of fire-escapes in which a basket or car is employed to convey the occupants of a burning build ing to a place of safety; and the invention consists, essentially, of rigidly and securely fastening to the upper part of the building, preferably above the top of the uppermost windows, a suitable track and mounting upon this track a movable truck fitted with grooved pulleys, around which are adapted to pass the lifting ropes or cables, to one end of which is securely fastened the basket or car, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a building, showing the fire-escape in position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the truck, basket, and ropes and a portion of the track looking at it from the obverse side or that side next the building. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same with the frame of the carriage partly broken away to show the arrangement of the pulleys and traveling wheels. Fig. 4: is an end elevation of the same. Fig; 5 is a view, partly in section, of one :of the wall-brackets, showing the manner in which the ends of the track-rails are connected to it. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the basket.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

a represents the track, which may, if so desired, completely encircle the building or it may be connected to one or more sides only of the same, preferably above the top of the uppermost windows. This track consists of a series of rails united by wall-braokets b, rigidly and securelyv connected to the wall of the building. Each of the wall-brackets consists of a coupling-arm 0, corresponding in diameter to the inner diameter of the trackrail a, and a horizontal brace (1, extending outwardly from the middle of the arm 0 and with which .is integrally formed an inclined brace e, the braces d and e being so arranged that they can be rigidly and securely fastened to the wall of the building. The arm 0 at its juncture with the horizontal brace 01 is provided with an outwardly-directed flange f, corresponding in diameter with the outer diameter of the track-rail a, so that when the ends of the track-rails are fitted on the horizontal arm 0 their ends will abut against the side faces of the flange f, and the peripheral faces of the flange and track-rails will form a continuous surface. Mounted on the track a is a truck g, consisting of a frame h, of any suitable shape and size, and journaled in the upper part of the frame it is a grooved wheel i, which is adapted to travel on the track-rails a, and journaled in the frame It, vertically below the wheel r, is a grooved guide-wheel j, the flanges of the wheels '5 and j overlapping the track-rails a sufflciently to prevent the displacement of the truck from the track. Journaled in the frame It, on opposite sides of the guide-wheel j, are grooved pulleys 7c and respectively, the centers of which are equidistant from the center of the guide-wheel j in order that the truck will be perfectly balanced on the track. By properly balancing thetruck on the track the pulleys will be maintained in their proper relative positions and each at the same distance from the track, so that the lifting-cords will not bind against it during the operation of the invention. The frame h, between the pulleys kand 70' and the guide-wheel j, is provided with openings 1 for the liftingropes m,which may be made of hemp, wire, or other suitable material, it being preferable to use a flexible rope with a Wire strand running through it. One end of each of the ropes m is connected to one side of the car or basket 0, while to the other side of the car or basket and to the lifting-ropes m are connected guyropes p, and fitted to the outer side of the car or basket are loops or guides q, through which pass the lifting-ropes m, the guides or loops beingmade of rounded or tubular metal to reduce the friction on the ropes while the car is being raised'or lowered. By providing the loops on the side of the car and passing the lifting-ropes through them the speed of the cars movement and its relative position to the building can be regulated by the person or persons manipulating the ropes-that is to say, by spreading the ropes asunder the speed of the descent of the car or basket can be arrested or controlled without reference to the weight of its contents, and by drawing the ropes outward from the building the car or basket can be moved away from the burning building, so as to avoid the smoke and flames emanating from the doors, windows, and other openings beneath it.

The'operation of the invention is as follows:

The lifting-ropes are passed over the pulleys k and 70 and connected to the car or basket in the manner above described. By drawing downward on the ropes the .car or basket is raised to any desired elevation, and by drawing sidewise on the ropes the truck can be moved along the track to any predetermined position to bring the car opposite any desired opening in the building. After the car or basket has received its load it is lowered to the ground and its contents discharged, after which it is again raised for a second load.

The invention may be used not only for the purposeof removing the occupants of the burning building, but may also be employed for the purpose of raising the firemen with the fire-hose to any desired elevation, so that the stream of water can be directed into the burning building at any desired point.

The track a may consist of a series of independent sections or rails, as shown and described, or it may consist of one continuous cable supported by the Wall-brackets.

In order to awaken the occupants of the building, a gong r is connected to the truck of the fire-escape, and connected to the hammer of the gong is a cord 8, by means of which the gong is operated. The gong can be rung .jacent end of the cables, guides connected to the basket intermediate the cables and guyropes through which pass the other end of the cables, substantially as specified.

Toronto, January 31, 1901.

NORMAN N. BILLINGS.

In presence of O. H. RIOHES, L. F. BROOK. 

